Poll: Have you ever said yes to new work even though you were fully booked?
Autor de la hebra: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
PERSONAL DEL SITIO
Nov 19, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever said yes to new work even though you were fully booked?".

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neilmac
neilmac
España
Local time: 07:25
español al inglés
+ ...
Several times Nov 19, 2018

I mean, there is fully booked and "fully booked"... I suppose the more you have to juggle things, the better you get at it.

PS: The less work I have, the longer I take to do it...

[Edited at 2018-11-19 16:38 GMT]


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Thayenga
Michael Harris
Ventnai
Mario Freitas
Robert Paulig
Laura Nagle (X)
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
Estados Unidos
Local time: 22:25
Miembro 2003
español al inglés
+ ...
Yes Nov 19, 2018

Close to "often" than"once or twice." It depends on how fully booked I am, how large the two jobs are, my other obligations, and many other circumstances.

I often accept new work when the other deadline is comfortable,


Liena Vijupe
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Thayenga
Mario Freitas
Ann Marie Bohan
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 06:25
Miembro 2007
inglés al portugués
+ ...
Yes, several times! Nov 19, 2018

It depends on how overbooked I am but translation projects have a strange tendency to come in groups: days with no work at all are followed by days when projects keep coming one after the other. You either are extremely busy or, well... All the ups and downs are part of the journey.

Susanna Martoni
Michael Harris
Davide Leone
Ricki Farn
Vi Pukite
Mario Freitas
Matheus Chaud
 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brasil
Local time: 03:25
Miembro 2014
inglés al portugués
+ ...
Yes, several times Nov 19, 2018

We must evaluate the "level" or "potential" of client.
We cannot refuse jobs from a client that pays you a thousand dollars every month.
Also, we cannot ignore a new potential client that could become one of those.
Of course I have refused several such jobs from clients I already know, and I know I can refuse the job without causing any damage to the relationship. It's part of our job not being available.
But our portfolio is very volatile. We simply cannot afford to lose
... See more
We must evaluate the "level" or "potential" of client.
We cannot refuse jobs from a client that pays you a thousand dollars every month.
Also, we cannot ignore a new potential client that could become one of those.
Of course I have refused several such jobs from clients I already know, and I know I can refuse the job without causing any damage to the relationship. It's part of our job not being available.
But our portfolio is very volatile. We simply cannot afford to lose good clients or to miss new good clients.
A little sacrifice is necessary sometimes.
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Anja Hajek
Matheus Chaud
 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 00:25
alemán al inglés
+ ...
by way of making arrangements Nov 19, 2018

The way the question was worded left me uncomfortable in answering. The "even though" sounds like the thought is that we would say yes to new work, and then not have time to do it, or something like that. No, I wouldn't do that. However, if I'm fully booked, I might:
a) explain to the client that I'm fully booked, and is it possible to have them on a waiting list, to start their project a bit later
b) give a feasible completion date. Say they contact me on Monday, the work will t
... See more
The way the question was worded left me uncomfortable in answering. The "even though" sounds like the thought is that we would say yes to new work, and then not have time to do it, or something like that. No, I wouldn't do that. However, if I'm fully booked, I might:
a) explain to the client that I'm fully booked, and is it possible to have them on a waiting list, to start their project a bit later
b) give a feasible completion date. Say they contact me on Monday, the work will take 1 day, and I have 3 days of work booked already: I'll tell them it will be ready on Friday. I'll finish the other work on Wednesday, start this work on Wed. afternoon. or Thurs. morning, so that I'll meet that deadline.
c) in unusual and urgent situations, ask the other client(s) whether we can change a deadline - but only if the other client's project is one where it would be ok to ask that.

I'd also check what "fully booked" means. I always try to have some air space, so that if something takes 2 days, I'll give it 3, so that if the unexpected happens I'll still deliver on time or early. This also gives time to stick in a small translation if some kind of emergency arises.

As much as possible, I try not to exercise any of these options, with the exception of b) which over those 5 days isn't "fully booked" anyway.
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Poll: Have you ever said yes to new work even though you were fully booked?






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